Morning everyone. A Chinese Australian academic jailed for life in China and whose health is failing has written an emotional letter to Anthony Albanese thanking him for his efforts to obtain his freedom.
Plus: the Greens’ parliamentary caucus meets today to elect a new leader, fossilised footprints found in Victoria provide new insight into the chain of evolution, and Mexico is in shock after an influencer was shot dead live on TikTok.
Australia
Price push | Promotional price tags used by pharmacy chains may be enticing shoppers towards products that are not discounted at all, with new research from Choice finding bright labels are confusing one in three customers.
‘Tears blur my vision’ | Jailed Chinese Australian academic Yang Hengjun has written to Anthony Albanese from his prison cell in Beijing, thanking him for repeatedly expressing Australia’s “grave concerns” about his deteriorating health to Chinese officials and expressing his love for his adopted country.
Greens decide | The Greens’ 11 senators and sole remaining MP will meet in Melbourne today to decide the party’s fifth federal leader. Here’s how it will work. We also have advice for whoever wins in our Full Story podcast below. The Liberals have already chosen their new leader, but Andrew Hastie says he has the “desire” to be leader one day.
Burger bar | A proposal to open a 24-hour McDonald’s in Redfern in Sydney has been rejected by the council’s independent planning tribunal after concerns about increased crime from the police and residents.
‘Turning point’ | Fossilised claw prints found in Victoria suggest amniotes – the ancestors of reptiles, birds and mammals – evolved about 40m years earlier than thought. They are the oldest evidence of amniotes ever found.
World
Mexico killing | A young Mexican social media influencer, known for her videos about beauty and makeup, was shot to death during a TikTok livestream in an incident that underlines the country’s high levels of gender-based violence.
Hungary | Viktor Orbán plans to introduce broad powers to monitor, penalise and potentially ban organisations Hungary’s authoritarian prime minister describes as a threat to national sovereignty in a move that could shut down independent media and NGOs.
Trump’s travels | Boeing has secured a record-breaking $96bn deal to sell Qatar up to 210 Boeing jets, Donald Trump has announced, as he continued to defend his acceptance of the gift of a $400m luxury aircraft from the Gulf state. Earlier on his Middle East tour he met Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Kremlin crunch | The US senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Donald Trump, is expected to brief European leaders gathered in Turkey on his plans to push through Congress sanctions designed to devastate the Russian economy if Vladimir Putin does not show a willingness to negotiate the future of Ukraine in good faith. The Kremlin is still refusing to say if Putin will travel to Istanbul for potential peace talks although Trump said there was “possibility” he might attend himself.
‘Not good’ | Jamie Lee Curtis has revealed that she had plastic surgery at the age of 25 because of a comment made to her on the set of a movie.
Full Story
Richard Di Natale’s advice for the next Greens leader
Before a vote on who will take the party forward, the former Greens leader Richard Di Natale speaks to Nour Haydar on what lessons can be learned from the election result and where to now for the minor party.
In-depth
Between the police and the courts, and the health system and child protection services, finding a way through the system is complicated for any woman. For Jasmine, who had been in Australia six weeks before finding herself and her children homeless thanks to an abusive partner, it was “the biggest struggle of my life”. Rafqa Touma reports on the New South Wales centre trying help Jasmine and many others.
Not the news
At first sight, the craze for Labubu dolls – a ball of fluff with a monster face that sells for hundreds of dollars – is the latest in a long line of children’s crazes. But, writes Van Badham, their popularity among actual grownups suggest that they offer a retreat into an illusion of childhood simplicity.
Sport
Women’s rugby league | After the resounding success of the recent Origin series, former player Ruan Sims writes for us to pay tribute to those who paved the way for today’s players.
Cricket | Jamie Smith, England’s wicketkeeper-batter, looks forward to playing India in this coming British summer and how it’s “every English player’s dream” to win the Ashes in Australia.
Golf | Rory McIlroy has warned his rivals that completing a career slam by winning the Masters means he can play without pressure as he goes into the US PGA.
Media roundup
People in New South Wales are paying up to $800 a year more than the national average to run everyday appliances as they face more electricity price hikes, the Australian reports. Parents in Victoria who defame teachers or principals online should face a $1,000 fine as a way to stamp out abuse, a state mediator tells the Age. Swimming legend Dawn Fraser has revealed two recent near-death experiences, the Courier Mail reports, but has vowed to “fight on”.
What’s happening today
Sydney | Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety conference.
Politics | Greens leadership vote in Melbourne at 1pm.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
